Benzo[f]quinolinones

A process of resolving racemates of the 4a,10b-transenantiomers of those compounds having the Formula ##STR22## where R is hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl;

• Z and Z.sup.1 are independently selected from hydrogen and C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl;
• Y is hydrogen;
• R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are all hydrogen;
• n is 1 or 2;
• and
• X is hydrogen, halogen, NO.sub.2, CF.sub.3, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, amino, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylamino, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 dialkylamino, mercapto, or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkylthio;
• into their component optical isomers comprising essentially the steps of:
• (a) contacting a methanol solution of said racemate with a strong acid to afford a 1-(2-methoxycarbonylethyl)-2-(amino)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene;
• (b) contacting said tetrahydronaphthalene from (a) with a methanol solution of an optically active di-p-toluoyltartaric acid to afford a corresponding tetrahydronaphthalene salt;
• and
• (c) treating said salt from (b) with a base to obtain a free amine having substantially one optically active isomer;
• (d) heating said free amine from (c) at a temperature from about 35.degree. C. to about 120.degree. C. to recyclize and afford the desired octahydrobenzo[f]quinolinone.